Erich Maria Remarque, a German writer of the 20th century, is celebrated for his masterful depiction of the “lost generation” and the traumas of war. 

This article paints an intricate portrait of his life, his literary contributions, and his legacy that transcends generations.

Erich Maria Remarque’s Life and Work

Erich Maria Remarque, born in the quaint Saxon town of Osnabrück, is most renowned for his groundbreaking novel, “All Quiet on the Western Front” (originally “On the Western Front without Change”). This work, published in 1929, is among the iconic trilogies of the “lost generation”, alongside Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms” and Richard Aldington’s “Death of a Hero.”

Raised in a bookbinding family, Remarque’s early life foreshadowed a literary destiny. After completing high school in 1916, he enlisted for the war, experiencing firsthand the bleak trenches of the Western Front. Upon his return, Remarque’s diverse career ranged from teaching to journalism, with a stint as the editor of “Sports in Illustrations” magazine.

His literary debut in 1929 was an immediate success, garnering worldwide acclaim. However, his sharp criticisms of war were unwelcome in Nazi Germany, leading to his novels being denounced and destroyed. Despite this, Remarque continued to address the “lost generation” in his subsequent novel “The Return” in 1931. By 1932, political pressures drove him to reside in various countries, including France, the U.S., and eventually Switzerland.

While outside Germany, Remarque penned several novels praising humanity’s finest qualities – loyalty, love, duty, and the tenets of democracy and freedom. Novels such as “Three Comrades”, “Arc de Triomphe”, and “Time to Live and Time to Die” explored these themes. He also delved into the post-war period, maintaining his signature authenticity in novels like “Life Borrowed” and “A Night in Lisbon.”

The Formative Years of Erich Maria Remarque and the Impact of World War I

World War I was the canvas upon which Erich Maria Remarque painted his literary legacy. Drafted into the German army in November 1916, Remarque, like many of his peers, found himself thrust into the brutal realities of combat. Posted at the Western Front, he endured the merciless nature of trench warfare in the heart of Flanders, Belgium. A severe injury from British artillery in July 1917 halted his active service temporarily. However, upon recovery, he rejoined the forces in October 1918. This was just in time to witness the German imperial government’s fall and the birth of the German republic. The cessation of hostilities on November 11, 1918, marked the end of an era, but for Remarque, it marked the beginning of a deeply reflective period. His vivid wartime memories, marked by the poignant loss of comrades, became the foundation for his masterpiece, All Quiet on the Western Front.

Returning to his hometown, Osnabrück, Remarque prioritized his education. Initially dabbling in teaching, he soon ventured into other avenues for sustenance, from giving piano tuitions and serving as an organist to critiquing theater for local publications. His literary prowess began to manifest with the publishing of his debut novel, Die Traumbude, complemented by a collection of poems and other short stories. 1922 saw him shift base to Hannover, where he honed his editorial skills at Echo Continental, a publication associated with the Continental Rubber Company. It was during this period that he embraced the moniker, Erich Maria Remarque, a nod to his family’s original French name.

A move to Berlin in 1925 widened Remarque’s horizons. Working as an editor for Sport im Bild, a prominent sports magazine, he began networking with notable names in the literary and film circuit, one of them being Leni Riefenstahl, the famed filmmaker who would later be associated with Nazi cinema.

A Timeless Classic: All Quiet on the Western Front

1929 was a defining year for Remarque. He unveiled *All Quiet on the Western Front (Im Westen nichts Neues), a harrowing account of World War I, capturing the raw anguish of young German soldiers trapped in the brutalities of warfare. A poignant representation of the war’s wasted generation, the book gained unparalleled success. It flew off the shelves, with nearly a million copies sold in Germany within a year. Its translation into various global languages further expanded its reach and impact. While liberals and progressives hailed Remarque’s pacifist undertones, right-wing factions, particularly the Nazis, viewed it as a blemish on Germany’s pride, labeling it Marxist propaganda.

Carl Laemmle, a German-origin Hollywood producer, recognizing the novel’s potential, procured the rights for its film adaptation. Released in May 1930, the movie became an instant sensation, clinching Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. However, its reception in Germany was tumultuous. Citing potential harm to Germany’s global image, authorities insisted on edits. While Remarque acquiesced to the demands, this did not appease staunch nationalists like Alfred Hugenberg, who leveraged his influence to try and ban the film.

The film’s eventual Berlin premiere in December 1930 was marred by Nazi-led disruptions. Orchestrated by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazis employed aggressive tactics, from releasing stink bombs to releasing mice, to halt the screening. Despite subsequent screenings witnessing similar unrest, it wasn’t until September 1931 that a more sanitized version of the film, tailored for German sensibilities, was released.

A Narrow Escape: Facing Nazi Wrath and Navigating a World at War

In the tremulous landscape of 1933, with Nazism gaining ground, Erich Maria Remarque found it prudent to leave his homeland. He sought refuge in Switzerland, where he had prudently procured a lakeside residence a few years prior. His departure from Berlin eerily coincided with a significant turn of events; he exited a mere day before Adolf Hitler’s chancellorship was inaugurated on January 30, 1933.

The rising Nazi fanaticism manifested itself in a nation-wide act of cultural vandalism by May 1933. In a dramatic display of intolerance, pro-Nazi student factions orchestrated book-burning events across the nation. On Berlin’s Opernplatz, as book pyres blazed, the Nazi orator made a pointed proclamation against alleged literary traitors. With vehemence, he declared:

“In retaliation to the literary deceit against World War soldiers and to enlighten our populace in earnestness, I condemn the writings of Erich Maria Remarque to these flames.”

In the wake of this, a methodical elimination of Remarque’s literary presence ensued, with his works being expunged from bookstores, academic institutions, and public libraries. Adding insult to injury, in 1938, the Nazis revoked his German citizenship. Post-1933, save for sporadic visits post-Nazi downfall, Remarque’s connection with Germany remained severed.

Despite the censure in Germany, the global stage was more receptive. Remarque’s works found avid readers, especially in the US, and his standing among international literati remained unaffected. Prominent publishing houses championed his books, and esteemed publications like Collier’s spotlighted his narratives in serialized formats. Furthermore, Hollywood’s interest in adapting his novels for the silver screen testified to his undiminished appeal.

Navigating Through the Second World War

The onslaught of World War II in September 1939 prompted Remarque to journey further west, making the United States his haven. Oscillating between the East Coast’s New York and the West’s Los Angeles, he fervently penned novels. These works, like Liebe deinen Nächsten (Flotsam), Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph), Die Nacht von Lissabon (The Night in Lisbon), and the posthumously revealed Schatten im Paradies (Shadows in Paradise), resonate with the dissonances faced by anti-Nazi dissidents. Through his characters, Remarque explores their fractured ties with their homeland and their intricate journey of recalibrating to an exilic existence.

In a notable collaboration with the United States’ intelligence machinery in 1944, Remarque composed an insightful report for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the contemporary Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He emphasized the paramountcy of a concerted re-education drive for post-war Germany. Remarque ardently believed that an unfiltered exposure to Nazi atrocities and the perils of militarism was pivotal for the nation’s holistic rehabilitation.

Post-War Literature and Personal Trials

In the aftermath of the war, Remarque channeled his pen to elucidate the horrors that Nazism had unleashed upon humanity. Remarkably, he was at the vanguard among German authors who audaciously discussed the enormity of the Nazi-driven mass exterminations, the macabre concentration camp framework, and the collective complicity of the masses. Works like Der Funke Leben (Spark of Life) and Zeit zu leben und Zeit zu sterben (A Time to Love and A Time to Die) poignantly echo these sentiments.

A personal revelation post-war shook Remarque deeply: his beloved younger sibling, Elfriede, had been ensnared by the Nazi regime for her audacity in voicing anti-Nazi and “defeatist” opinions. The machinery of the regime was brutal – after a sham trial, Elfriede was handed a death sentence and was gruesomely beheaded on December 16, 1943. Der Funke Leben (Spark of Life) was a literary homage to her indomitable spirit. In a bid to ensure that the ones who betrayed Elfriede didn’t escape unpunished, Remarque enlisted the services of Robert Kempner, a notable US prosecutor from the Nuremberg Trials.

Post-war, 1948 marked Remarque’s homecoming to Switzerland, this time donning the mantle of an American national. His writings again graced German shelves, albeit they weren’t spared from critical scrutiny and, at times, underwent alterations to expunge sections deemed politically contentious. Love bloomed in 1958 when Remarque exchanged wedding vows with Hollywood’s shining star, Paulette Goddard. Their bond endured till Remarque breathed his last in 1970.

Significant Milestones in Remarque’s Life:

• 1904-1908: Remarque pursued education at the Folk High School Domschule;
• 1912-1915: He attended the Catholic Seminary and later worked as a teacher;
• 1916: War called, and a young Remarque was drafted to the frontlines, receiving three injuries that would mark him forever;
• 1917: Tragedy struck as Remarque lost his mother, Anne-Marie, to cancer. This event prompted him to adopt the now-famous name, Erich Maria Remarque;
• 1918: Further losses followed with the death of his best friend, Fritz Hörstermeier, and his refusal of the Iron Cross award;
• 1920s: The decade was marked by his writing endeavors, teaching roles, and journalism stints in publications like Osnabrücker Landeszeitung. By the end of the decade, his novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” was an international sensation;
• 1930s: Amidst Nazi persecution, Remarque sought solace in Switzerland, buying the villa “Casa Monte Tabor”. He met notable figures like Marlene Dietrich, with whom he shared a romantic relationship;
• 1940s: With Marlene Dietrich’s assistance, he secured an American visa, and later in the decade, published “Arc de Triomphe”;
• 1950s: This period saw his acquaintance with actress Paulette Goddard, their subsequent marriage, and literary successes like “Life Borrowed.”;
• 1960s: Awards and accolades poured in for Remarque, including the Möser Medal and the Grand Cross of Merit. However, health issues loomed, culminating in a severe heart attack in 1963;
• 1970: Erich Maria Remarque’s illustrious journey ended with his demise from an aortic aneurysm.

Posthumously, Paulette Goddard, his widow, unveiled “Shadows in Paradise,” further establishing Remarque’s indelible mark on literary history.

Literary Legacy of Erich Maria Remarque:

Novels:

• 1920: Die Traumbude;
• 1929: Im Westen Nichts Neues (All Quiet on the Western Front);
• 1931: Der Weg Züruck (The Road Back);
• 1938: Drei Kameraden (Three Comrades);
• 1941: Liebe deinen Nächsten (trans: Love Thy Neighbor, but internationally recognized as Flotsam);
• 1945: Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph);
• 1952: Der Funke Leben (Spark of Life);
• 1954: Zeit zu leben und Zeit zu sterben (globally known in English as A Time to Love and A Time to Die);
• 1956: Der schwarze Obelisk (The Black Obelisk);
• 1961: Der Himmel kennt keine Günstlinge (Heaven has no Favorites);
• 1962: Die Nacht von Lissabon (The Night in Lisbon);
• 1971: Schatten im Paradies (Shadows in Paradise).

Final Thoughts

Erich Maria Remarque stands as a testament to the enduring power of literature in the face of adversity. From his early life in Germany to his forced exile amidst the rise of Nazism, Remarque’s journey was fraught with both personal and professional trials. 

Despite the burning of his books and the tragic loss of his sister to the Nazis’ brutality, he never wavered in his commitment to shed light on the darker chapters of human history. His post-war literary contributions not only grapple with the horrors of Nazism but also raise poignant questions about humanity’s collective conscience. 

Migrating across continents, from the European landscapes to the dynamic realms of America, he continued to pen stories that resonated with millions, bridging cultural and linguistic barriers. Even in the face of criticism and censorship, Remarque’s novels stood unyielding, offering readers a mirror to the turbulent 20th century. 

As we look back on his life and works, we are reminded of the undying spirit of an author who, despite facing the worst of humanity, believed in its redemption and chronicled it for future generations to ponder upon.